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5

TVJerryNov 27, 2015

An FBI investigator (Julia Roberts in awful bangs) rushes to a murder scene, where she discovers her daughter is the victim. Thirteen years later, her partner (Chiwetel Ejiofor) returns to re-open the case. Toss in the unrequited love betweenAn FBI investigator (Julia Roberts in awful bangs) rushes to a murder scene, where she discovers her daughter is the victim. Thirteen years later, her partner (Chiwetel Ejiofor) returns to re-open the case. Toss in the unrequited love between him and the DA (Nicole Kidman) for some personal drama. Luckily, this trio turns in compelling performances, because the story moves slowly and without much style. Add in a few dramatic (but not totally surprising) twists and the heavy-handed approach gets even more intense. While the actors do a good job, the clunky script and overbearing bleakness of the direction render it less effective.… Expand

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3

roosevelt323Dec 14, 2015

Lamentable is the word for this movie. Why? Great cast.. great idea/concept.. but poor and molasses slow delivery. The director attempted to be clever.. all he managed to do is just prolong a boring movie..
too bad.. i had high hopesLamentable is the word for this movie. Why? Great cast.. great idea/concept.. but poor and molasses slow delivery. The director attempted to be clever.. all he managed to do is just prolong a boring movie..
too bad.. i had high hopes going in... Wait for it on Netflix or Redbox… Expand

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5

DotTheEyesNov 20, 2015

Years after a tragic murder interwove their lives and careers, a prosecutor (Nicole Kidman) and two federal agents (Chiwetel Ejiofor, Julia Roberts) reluctantly reunite when one among them believes the elusive culprit, freed before due toYears after a tragic murder interwove their lives and careers, a prosecutor (Nicole Kidman) and two federal agents (Chiwetel Ejiofor, Julia Roberts) reluctantly reunite when one among them believes the elusive culprit, freed before due to thin evidence and inter-agency duplicity, has reemerged. Roberts' bid to rid herself of any movie-star glamour to instead exude ashen intensity is admirable, but too self-conscious to connect, and Kidman is so restrained and underutilized as to barely register, but Ejiofor delivers a well-calibrated portrayal of despairing tunnel vision. The depth and precision of his performance elevates Secret in Their Eyes, a sleepy and unimaginative English-language update of the award-winning Argentine crime drama of the same name. Post-9/11 anxiety proves a wan stand-in for Argentina's "Dirty War" as a historical framing device. The past-present transitions inherent to the double-pronged structure are more confusing than intriguing; it nearly becomes a two-hour-plus game of Spot the Amount of Grey in Chiwetel Ejiofor's Beard. And the twist ending, already rather contrived in the original, is more labored (and shorter on resonance) here, a too-cute sting prefaced by a montage of the heavy-handed hints interspersed throughout the rest of the film.… Expand

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1

DQ_SlotkinsMar 28, 2016

Just horrible. A bucket of cold cliches. Shame on everyone connected to this pile of junk. It's a Hollywood reworking (I wouldn't call it a remake) of a much superior Argentine thriller (winner of the 2010 Best Foreign Film Oscar). See the original.

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8

lukechristianscFeb 27, 2016

Billy Ray's "Secret In Their Eyes" has a predictable twist you see coming, but then there's another twist you don't see coming, look I haven't seen the original film that this is based on but it's very entertaining and good despite it'sBilly Ray's "Secret In Their Eyes" has a predictable twist you see coming, but then there's another twist you don't see coming, look I haven't seen the original film that this is based on but it's very entertaining and good despite it's boring and I almost fell asleep while watching this it's still a solid-crime genre film with three excellent performances from Chiwetel Ejiofor, Julia Roberts and Nicole Kidman and an entertaining screenplay written and directed by Billy Ray (Shattered Glass and Breach). In 2002, two detectives Ray (played by Chiwetel Ejifor) and Jess (played by Julia Roberts) are in a private police unit led by the DNA. They rush to a crime scene where a girl is raped and murder. When Ray looks at the dead body he realizes it's actually Jess' daughter Carolyn (Zoe Graham). The team falls apart due to grief. 13 years later, he is still on the case and he has found a lead and convinces DA to open the case. They find clues and is still unknown, and the secrets in the past unravel the chilling truth. Meanwhile Jess still griefs, and decides to take it into her own hands to find the killer. 4.3 out of 5 stars… Expand

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9

MadMaxFuryRoadApr 17, 2016

The Secret in their Eyes is an amazing film starring Julia Roberts, Nicole Kidman, and some other guy playing Ray. It was much more suspenseful, entertaining, and violent than I expected it to be. The reviews were really bad, and so I was aThe Secret in their Eyes is an amazing film starring Julia Roberts, Nicole Kidman, and some other guy playing Ray. It was much more suspenseful, entertaining, and violent than I expected it to be. The reviews were really bad, and so I was a bit worried. However, the film was actually a really fun chase film. The first 30 minutes are pretty slow and the flashback element did get annoying at times, however it was actually a pretty solid film! (87/100)… Expand

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7

smiyamotMar 24, 2016

A good crime thriller, spanning 13 years, an FBI agent keeps looking for the killer of his partner's daughter. Great actors in this one, guess I have to ask why, and how could they afford them for this movie? Must have been a pet project ofA good crime thriller, spanning 13 years, an FBI agent keeps looking for the killer of his partner's daughter. Great actors in this one, guess I have to ask why, and how could they afford them for this movie? Must have been a pet project of one of them, and asked the other two to join in. Of course, there is always the common sense question at the end of the movie, if these two were so close, why didn't they talk more? Why didn't somebody say something when the other came back after 13 years? Well, then there would be no plot and no movie. For me, that knocks it down to a 7.… Expand

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3

BHBarryNov 20, 2015

"Secret in Their Eyes" stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Julia Roberts and Nicole Kidman in this ill conceived story written and directed by Billy Ray.
A murder that took place 13 years ago has the viewing audience bouncing back and forth from scenes"Secret in Their Eyes" stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Julia Roberts and Nicole Kidman in this ill conceived story written and directed by Billy Ray.
A murder that took place 13 years ago has the viewing audience bouncing back and forth from scenes in the present to scenes which took place at the time of the crime. The only possible way to distinguish between the two time periods are the hairstyles of Ms. Kidman and Ms. Roberts and the buttoned and unbuttoned collar of Mr. Ejiofor. This is a task that the most attentive and dedicated viewer will find hard to accomplish Watching the film is an effort and, when you add to that, a concocted plot in a film poorly written, edited and directed, it becomes obvious that quality players are being asked to perform in a less than adequate vehicle which, for this viewer, gets and deserves only a 3.… Expand

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6

quincytheodoreNov 23, 2015

The stars do their best to keep the drama intact, but presentation of the thriller feels redundant and the mystery angle barely produces any excitement

From the first five minutes, Secret in Their Eyes already delivers several famousThe stars do their best to keep the drama intact, but presentation of the thriller feels redundant and the mystery angle barely produces any excitement

From the first five minutes, Secret in Their Eyes already delivers several famous faces. It's apparent that the movie invests heavily on the cast, and while they are capable, the investigation story is rather bland and barely able to draw any emotional depth. I'm well aware that it's a remake, but it shouldn't be an issue or affect it in major way, considering that the movie is of average quality regardless.

The story might seem complicated at first with the many time jumps it presents, however it's practically the same case of homicide spanning for 13 years, with minute details sprinkled here and there. The daughter of a counter-terrorist agent is murdered, the team then pursues this case with two different agendas, one is justice for the daughter and the advancement of terrorist prevention.

Despite having the backdrop of murder, terrorism and rape at the same time, the case isn't complex. It's barely the level of good television drama as the investigation is pretty fundamental and offers little shocking twist. The two timelines are quite refined as audience can easily follow the pace, albeit the repeat story angle does feel cumbersome.

This might be an analogy of wallowing on the past, say that it is, that doesn't change the monotonous tone as well as occasional far-fetch development. Fortunately, the cast holds its own. Chiwetel Ejiofor as Ray is the main agent, working on the case at both time perspectives, he appears determined almost to a fault. The focus of his character is more towards drama, especially between him and his colleagues, than endearing cop procedural.

Nicole Kidman as Claire is the calmer prosecutor type, she's the love interest role on the subplot while also having some part on the case. She looks good, amazingly for older and younger version alike, a bit of resemblance to her role in The Interpreter. Julia Roberts plays the most emotional of them all, the mother of the victim. As expected she delivers the character well, especially since it's the maternal role she's familiar with.

Strangely, even with such high profile line-up, down to the supporting characters, there's low amount of thrill. The characters try to squeeze any drama they can, but the material is too sparse and it lacks the necessary tension to build a captivating mystery thriller.

It may have a couple of emotionally stirring moments due to the acting prowess, yet the presentation of the thriller feels redundant and for a nearly two hours movie, there's barely any fascination at the end.… Expand

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3

csw12Apr 25, 2016

Secret in their eyes is a boring piece of work with actors that seem to be going through the motions. The ending was poor and the movie seem to move at a snail pace.

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7

GreatMartinNov 25, 2015

This is not the sparkling Julia Roberts of “Pretty Woman” or the sexed up one in “Erin Brockovich” but a completely bare of make-up, stripped of all emotions except of love for her daughter, that when someone says she “..looks a million yearsThis is not the sparkling Julia Roberts of “Pretty Woman” or the sexed up one in “Erin Brockovich” but a completely bare of make-up, stripped of all emotions except of love for her daughter, that when someone says she “..looks a million years old” you can believe it. Aside from her looks Roberts is at the top of her acting game being effective in quick scenes consisting of just a glance or longer scenes that require her eyes tell the secrets they are holding.

As it is “Secret In Their Eyes” stands up as a solid crime genre but has a twist that I didn’t see coming until after an hour and thirty minutes into the hour and 50 minutes of the film! It is worth seeing this movie to test your ability on guessing what is going to come.

Co-starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, as an FBI agent who is working a counterterrorism case with Roberts’ DA investigator, shares the burden of carrying the moral tone of the film. He, also, has a love affair that isn’t--go see the movie--with Nicole Kidman who will become a district attorney. We meet the three a few months after 9/11 when Robert’s daughter is found murdered and the films goes back and forth between then and 13 years later which is handled smoothly as you can tell the difference in the faces of Ejiofor and Roberts and the aftermath of the daughter’s death plus look for the gray in the former’s hair!

Alfred Molina who is in charge of the terrorism task force does not allow evidence to convict Joe Cole who is the murderer but, in politics, is more important as an informant of a mosque close to where Zoe Graham, the daughter, has been raped and killed. Thirteen years later Kidman presented with a new reason to open the case also passes for political reasons. Through the years, Michael Kelly, as a surely co-worker and Dean Norris as another investigator and friend of Ejiofor and Roberts, both give strong support.

The director and screenwriter, Billy Ray, has to be held responsible for the non-romance between Kidman and Ejiofer, giving her a one note performance that has nothing to do with the film. Ray does a journeyman job and handles the mandatory foot chase and action scenes pacing the lower key scenes enough to hold the audience’s interest.

Daniel Moder, the cinematographer, and husband of Julia Roberts, doesn’t hold back on filming the ‘million year old’ woman!

“Secret In Their Eyes” is a good mystery with a twist very few people will see coming unless they are familiar with the Oscar winning Argentine film “El Secreto de Sus Ojos” which it is based on.… Expand

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8

foxgroveMar 4, 2016

Arriving almost un-noticed under the radar despite starring two high profile actresses, this is actually a very impressive remake of the 2009 Argentinian Oscar winner of the same title. Well written, and a great story to boot, the film isArriving almost un-noticed under the radar despite starring two high profile actresses, this is actually a very impressive remake of the 2009 Argentinian Oscar winner of the same title. Well written, and a great story to boot, the film is also smartly directed and edited, dealing as it does with two different time frames. People have criticised it for being confusing in this regard, but I had no trouble whatsoever in distinguishing which period was which on screen. The performances add gravitas. Chiwetel Ejiofor is solidly understated as the police investigator returning to his office 13 years later with new evidence about a rape and murder that was never prosecuted. Nicole Kidman isn’t bad either, although the least impressive of the three leads, as the district attorney he shares this new information with. The romantic bond implied between these two is definitely the story’s weakest link. The film’s biggest asset and the real news is that Julia Roberts, once again, proves herself to be more than capable of wowing in something other than a mediocre romantic comedy. Like her great turn in ‘August: Osage County’ she really does impress. Her performances are becoming subtler and more compelling as she matures. The vanity is gone and she doesn’t seem to care how she looks in the process of being true to the character. On the technical side the cinematography is a bit underwhelming, although the music underscores effectively.… Expand

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6

LeZeeSep 9, 2016

How long one's eyes can keep secret!

My confession is I haven't seen the original film. I had several opportunities, but for various reasons I stayed unwatched till now. Firstly, I won't consider it a remake since both the films wereHow long one's eyes can keep secret!

My confession is I haven't seen the original film. I had several opportunities, but for various reasons I stayed unwatched till now. Firstly, I won't consider it a remake since both the films were adapted from a novel. Yet no one can stop the people comparing between the two, just to find out which one is true to the book. In my perspective, I think the original source was written keeping the Argentinian society, because that dark tone narration suits them. I have seen many Argentinian films, but for the American kind of storytelling, it does not appeal. Even though it was not a bad film, I somewhat enjoyed, maybe because I haven't seen the other version.

The actors were great, but it was Chiwetel Ejiofor's film, He dominated the screenspace, and Nicole Kidman and Julia Roberts were slightly disappointed with their small roles. But overall, they all made it a decent film, particularly the direction impressed me for handling neatly knowing it is already once made a film. The story was suspenseful, yet it feels familiar and lets you predict the each scene before its commencement. Yes, I thought it was holding something big for the end part, and then it gives out all clues leading that way. So I kind of assumed what the end twist might be and that happened, but a bit differently.

This kind of screenplay totally works for a Korean style filmmaking, but Hollywood is expert in a different field. Wherever it comes the film, a film is a film, so I won't blame it on a regional ground for lacking of something. But it should have been a bit better, maybe more thrilling and making the characters more stronger with emotionally appealing could have worked, particularly for a certain group of audience. If you're watching this story for the first time, then you might enjoy it, but for the other reasons you might not. Whatever, not a bad film for watching it once.

6/10… Expand

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8

horcrux2007Nov 22, 2015

Remaking the 2009 Best Foreign Film Oscar winner The Secret in Their Eyes seems somewhat unnecessary and even strange, but whether you wanted it or not, here's Secret in Their Eyes. In 2002, a tight-knit group of investigators is torn apartRemaking the 2009 Best Foreign Film Oscar winner The Secret in Their Eyes seems somewhat unnecessary and even strange, but whether you wanted it or not, here's Secret in Their Eyes. In 2002, a tight-knit group of investigators is torn apart after one of their daughters is found brutally murdered in a dumpster. The mother vows revenge on her killer while the other FBI agents hunt for the murderer. Thirteen years later, one of them wants the case re-opened after he thinks he has found where the killer has been. The film often switches between 2002 and 2015, and the "past timeline" uses the September 11th attacks to present themes about criminality and prejudice in the country. The issue with the double setting, however, is that poor editing makes it difficult to distinguish which timeline we are watching at any given moment. You'll have to look for the grey in Chiwetel Ejiofor's beard or the length of Nicole Kidman's hair to determine if a particular scene takes place in 2002 or 2015. Despite this one persistent issue, Secret in Their Eyes is a beautifully shot, superbly acted and unpredictable crime thriller . Julia Roberts gives arguably her best performance that will unfortunately go unnoticed due to mixed reviews for this movie. She has some incredibly powerful scenes throughout the film, all of which are helped by great writing. Secret in Their Eyes might be an unnecessary remake, but it's all-star cast and moody atmosphere should make up for that.… Expand

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4

jlittle1404Apr 2, 2016

Popular cast with two leading ladies Kidman and Roberts. Roberts gives a solid performance but Kidman wasn't to impressive. Not very suspenseful or exciting just a typical crime/drama film. A good little twist that will surprise you. ThisPopular cast with two leading ladies Kidman and Roberts. Roberts gives a solid performance but Kidman wasn't to impressive. Not very suspenseful or exciting just a typical crime/drama film. A good little twist that will surprise you. This movie is basically all about being obsessive and wanting revenge. 5 out of 10… Expand

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5

TeijoSep 26, 2019

Completely ruined the original versión. Horrible ending, IT simplifices thing. Go watch the original movie!

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1

BroyaxJan 24, 2019

On aime bien revoir nos deux vieilles de temps en temps : l'une est pomponnée et sort toujours du coiffeur mais reste bien pâlotte (mange des carottes, Nicole !) ; l'autre a une tronche de déterrée... ou est coiffée comme l'as de piqueOn aime bien revoir nos deux vieilles de temps en temps : l'une est pomponnée et sort toujours du coiffeur mais reste bien pâlotte (mange des carottes, Nicole !) ; l'autre a une tronche de déterrée... ou est coiffée comme l'as de pique (prends tes cachets, Julie !). En fait, on se mélange tout le temps, car le film abuse des retours en arrière et en avant sans crier gare sur une affaire de meurtre au moment des évènements puis 13 ans plus tard...!

Cela dit, nos deux cocottes sont bonnes pour jouer dans la prochaine saison des housewives désoeuvrées. Entre les deux, on a cet acteur qui joue comme un pied, sorti d'on en sait où (d'une poubelle sans doute), tellement barbu qu'on dirait un terroriste alors qu'il bosse à l'anti-terrorisme... Ah mais c'est lui le gars qui infiltre la mosquée ! ah mais non, c'est un autre qui n'a pas l'air net mais pas vraiment le type arabe non plus... putain, on y comprend rien !

Bon, en gros, c'est un gros épisode des Experts à Los Angeles au scénario à la fois alambiqué et bien peu crédible, tartiné de guimauve assez épaisse. C'est lent, vraiment lent mais la curiosité nous fait tenir le coup bon gré mal gré jusqu'à cette fin un brin surprenante mais surtout pathétiquement désopilante... On rit jaune, d'un rire un peu nerveux : oui, ils nous prennent vraiment pour des imbéciles. Et ils ne s'en cachent même pas. Ils ont même l'air fier, je parie !

Aux yeux de tous... une connerie pareille, tout au premier degré et droite dans ses bottes pleines de rebondissements bidons, car il s'agit de "vengeance" voyez-vous... heureusement que le ridicule ne tue pas !… Expand

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